December 2009 - A Celebration of many things

[nic100308]

Thanks for the kind words Ty!! I always love to hear about how people have come to Disney, because lets face it; getting there is a journey all on it's own. I also love that almost everyone I have run into has something to celebrate. Sometimes it's just to celebrate the sheer fact that you were actually able to get to Disney, which is a perfect reason to celebrate.

I hope you enjoy the shirts, they were actually a lot of fun to make! I think it would be wild to run into you with our tie dye shirts on, I'll keep my eyes open.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Cute tees! I was thinking about making them for my youngest two for our December trip?? They weren't too hard??

 

[nic100308]

Not hard at all, just a little time consuming since you have to sew the outline with the dental floss and the whole wrapping with plastic wrap. If I could offer a few tips: definitely try to get 100% cotton shirts and also feel the quality of them. DH's shirt was a heavier cotton than mine and the stiching effect around Mickey came out better on his. And do this outside and keep an old towel on hand (one you don't mind getting dye on). DH and I live in an apartment which has a little balcony, I did it out there and over one of my cleaning buckets to catch the excess dye, then I rested them on the old towel.

Good luck and happy crafting!!! <-- I just love that banana!!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Not hard at all, just a little time consuming since you have to sew the outline with the dental floss and the whole wrapping with plastic wrap. If I could offer a few tips: definitely try to get 100% cotton shirts and also feel the quality of them. DH's shirt was a heavier cotton than mine and the stiching effect around Mickey came out better on his. And do this outside and keep an old towel on hand (one you don't mind getting dye on). DH and I live in an apartment which has a little balcony, I did it out there and over one of my cleaning buckets to catch the excess dye, then I rested them on the old towel.

Good luck and happy crafting!!! <-- I just love that banana!!

Thanks for the tips! if I get around to doing them, I will post them in my PTR!!!!

 

[johnGorski]

Funny thing is that we will be there 12.1 to 12.12. and I am in about the same economical situation as you "job loss" The upcomming trip will be our 8th since 2003! Our last trip was in April and I lost my job in May of this year but we are still going. Again its budget time! Everyone asks how can you go to Disney all the time and other trips well it is simple. We don’t smoke, gamble, drink "only on a slight occasion", go out to eat ever day and this list goes on -its amazing what the financial results are. My wife also works for Hilton Hotels so we get really good room rates, also she has connections for good car rentals. She checks 3 times a day for flights some how it hits the low 2 months before we go every time. Plus we will be getting the 10 day tickets or renewing our passes so we get the most bang for the buck. Watching our budget while we are inside of the park examples "dumping 12 bucks for a beer at epcot", "blowing a ton of money on merchandise" We do enjoy the dinning and we treat our selves to one nice table service each day, and yes some of them include characters LOL. I hope have a great time!
BTW I read your rude customer story and you had every right to say something! Other folks in that forum had no right to debate about that. Unfortually Disney is making every effort making the guest with the dining dog and you happy. That is why you got free dessert and a better table. I watched this one guest belly ache at the Hollywood and Vine restraunt swearing that a cast member at his hotel said there were snow crab legs on the buffet at Hollywood and Vine. Well what did Disney do they upgraded and gave him 2 premium dinning credit to a seafood restraunt so he can get his snow crab legs. The funny thing is i could see it right through him he did it on purpose.
I hope you and your husband have a blast!

 

[nic100308]

Hey John!! Sad to say that we seem to be the majority and not the minority. But, hang in there buddy!! And as I said to my DH life is a roller coaster, the ups aren't as fun without the downs.

I'm with you on the "your lifestyle is what affords you a Disney vacation." DH and I don't have kids yet, which right now seems a blessing as I know those little buggers are a lot of money (not knocking anyone with kids, I love them and can't wait to have them, but right now it's a good thing we don't). We ALWAYS cook dinner and bring our lunch to work and there is a food shopping budget too. We've discovered the joys of the fruit market: excellent quality produce at a super cheap price. If you have one near you I would suggest looking into it. I have everything down to the gas in our cars every week budgeted. By tracking everything and cutting back on what you don't need really adds up in the savings account.

We have free dining for this trip, so that will help A LOT!!! Less money for us to lay out while we're there, and even our big things (California Grill, CP Dining Package) that require 2 credits, isn't a big deal to us because it's FREE!!! We also don't get crazy with the souvenirs, and try to keep the costs down on anything we need to buy to go away.

Thanks for the kind words, LOL these boards can be brutal sometimes!

Thanks for reading and have a magical day!

PS- Hope you have an awesome time on your trip, our itinerary is all set and I will post details as soon as we get a chance.

 

[johnGorski]

Hi! I see you are going the same time we are, my wife is throwing a fit Dec. park schedule is not up! have you seen anything yet! She is planning this thing as we speak! I am trying to think of a premium restraunt to take her for her birthday down there, her B-day falls on the 5th of December any good suggestions. I like this site seems like we all have something in common all disney freaks lol.

 

[disneyaddicted]

I have a list of purchases I hope to make while in Disney, but for me the best souvenirs are the ones that you can put in a scrapbook, I take a napkin or coaster from the restaurants, confetti on the ground from a parade (gotta get it quick cause clean up there is fast) a fastpass that I didn't use. These are all great keepsakes and free.

Your attitude towards life is so wonderful, have you ever thought about being a motivational speaker? I'm serious here.

 

[disneyaddicted]

Hi! I see you are going the same time we are, my wife is throwing a fit Dec. park schedule is not up! have you seen anything yet! She is planning this thing as we speak! I am trying to think of a premium restraunt to take her for her birthday down there, her B-day falls on the 5th of December any good suggestions. I like this site seems like we all have something in common all disney freaks lol.

I have seen that the park hours for Dec are out now.

 

[nic100308]

Hi John, and fellow Dec travelers!! I got my Dec hours from this link:

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_Dec.pdf

From what I understand it is the Operating Hours that they release to travel agents. It has been completely accurate in past months so it is okay to use for your schedule.

 

[nic100308]

I'm so excited I could just !!! Yesterday I got the December hours and as soon as I saw then I diligently started to compare my "soft" itinerary to the actual hours and...
we didn't have to change a thing!! I'm really glad as I thought that I had put together a pretty awesome schedule. Let me know what you guys think:

THURSDAY 12/3: 6am flight, land MCO 9:20am
hopefully get to MK by 12:00ish, catch the 3:00 parade (that way when we go back we can be on the rides while others are watching because we caught it the first day!!!
7:30 Chip & Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long - Wilderness Lodge (FREE!!)

FRIDAY 12/4: Epcot - PM EMH
CP Dinner Package - Le Cellier (hopefully like a 6:00pm seating)
8:15 CP
9:30 Illuminations preferred seating (with our CP Dinner Package)

SATURDAY 12/5: DHS - AM EMH
3:00 Parade
dusk? 6:00ish I guess Osbourne Lights

SUNDAY 12/6: AK
3:45 Jingle Jungle Parade
8:00 ish Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage - Contemporary

MONDAY 12/7: MK - PM EMH
7:00 Spectro Magic
8:00 Wishes

TUESDAY 12/8: Free Day (sort of)
9:00 Chef Mickey's
Downtown Disney
4:00 MVMCP

WEDNESDAY 12/9: Split day
AK ~ DHS
9:00 La Nouba

THURSDAY 12/10: 8:45am Yuletide Fantasy
MK
8:45pm California Grill (hopefully a good seat for the fireworks)

FRIDAY 12/11: Epcot PM EMH
Behind the Seeds (I'm a granola and totally into all that)

SATURDAY 12/12: MK
Flight home 7:30pm

I guess it’s a little presumptuous for me to assume that I will get all my ADR’s and all the reservations for the activities we want to do, but I’m a positive person. I’m not really worried either. Friday 9/4 is our ADR 90+10 day and I will be on the phone at 7:00am to get everything set.

Random question to anyone who might know (well maybe not as random as I might have thought): I’m a planner, as you can see, but I have to give my poor DH a break every once in a while. We will have 9 table service credits, 5 of which will be used on the dinning experiences listed above, leaving 4 left over. DH kind of likes to go with the flow and sometimes eat depending on his mood (ie- fish and chips at the Rose and Crown when it strikes his fancy). While we do understand that eating on off hours will be easier to get a walk up, does anyone think we will have trouble doing this? I just want to know that if we want to dine someplace on a random day at like 4:15 we won’t get turned away.

Thank you for reading and have a magical day!!!!

 

[nic100308]

Hi! I see you are going the same time we are, my wife is throwing a fit Dec. park schedule is not up! have you seen anything yet! She is planning this thing as we speak! I am trying to think of a premium restraunt to take her for her birthday down there, her B-day falls on the 5th of December any good suggestions. I like this site seems like we all have something in common all disney freaks lol.

Howdy there partner!! As you will see I have posted my itinerary, please feel free to "steal" any of the things DH and I will be doing. Will you have free dinning while you're down there? If you will you may want to consider blowing 2 credits a piece on the California Grill and try to get there for the evening fireworks. I've never done it but I here it is totally worth it. DH and I had planned on going even before we got the free dinning so this is a bonus, even if we have to spend 2 credits each on it.

Also, if you're looking or something other than dinner try the Pirate and Pals Fireworks Voyage. It's about $50 per person (which is cheaper than the other fireworks cruises Disney offers) and it leaves from the Contemporary. I'm pretty excited about it, but I haven't really read anything by ways of a review.

Happy planning!!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Your plans look good! You may want to get online at 6 on Friday since you are trying to get Le Cellier early in your trip for dinner?? Just a thought? Some of the less popular restaurants may have walk up availability. I don't think I would count on buier ones. But, it is only the two of you and you are willing to go early, so maybe!

 

[JoJo1980]

Hi honey Those shirts look great!!

I'm so glad that your plans fit the hours perfectly!! Well done

We are on the deluxe dining plan and I have left us some meal credits to use when we want. I was getting really stressed about how to fit everything in, so we decided to throw in some CS meals or 'walk ups' on the day - I couldnt prebook every single meal as I would eventually pull all my hair out I'm sure you will be fine doing the same thing - but like the above poster said, just dont have your heart set on certain restuarants and you'll be fine

We are going to be at MK the same day watching the 3pm parade!!!

 

[nic100308]

So out of that entire itinerary the only thing that had to change was our CP Dinner Package at Le Cellier. Good thing we scheduled two days for Epcot (we usually do because it is big). Okay so some experiences with reservations:

1) I was online this morning at 6:00am <-- me at 6 am, DEFINITELY had coffee!! Right away with went for our California Grill reservation (as I thought that would be the hardest). I was looking for Thursday 12/10 at 8:45 as we wanted to be there for the fireworks. Logged in, put in my information, and... SCORE 9:00pm I'll take it!! The whole process was very easy. Now for Chef Mickey's. I wanted 9:00am on 12/8 and we got 9:10. Was very happy.

2) So now I had to wait until 7:00 for Le Cellier on 12/4 (for the 8:15 CP show- have to call in can't do it online ) So I get through at 7:02 and I already have a 30 minute wait. When I did get someone, the woman I was speaking to was so nice, so patient, so helpful, and so went above and beyond, I truly appreciated all her help. We had two days we were going to be at Epcot and we really wanted to eat at Le Cellier. She tried every possible cobination of time and date for Le Cellier and we finally came up with Friday 12/11 6:45 show and 3:55 "dinner". Totally cool with that, we wanted the package so we could get the good seating and we wanted to eat at Le Cellier, so we were willing to take whatever they could give us. Plus now we have plenty of time to get over to our preferred Illuminations seating (still no word where that will be).

3) So because I had to leave the house as soon as I hung up I forgot to get recreation on the phone and make resi's for the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage and the Yuletide Fantasy Tour. So I called recreation and again got the most pleasant woman!! She was so helpful and so nice to talk to. We discussed my trip and the different things we were going to be doing. So we get into the reservations for both, get the date and time we want, okay, so now time to pay. I go into my wallet and I realize I took my Disney Visa out this morning to make dinning reservations!! So now I'm trying to remember the card number, then I'm trying to see if I could log into my account online. I was one hot mess this morning when I called this lady and she was just so nice and patient. It really just made my day! The good news is that I forgot I got my hubby a card under my account and he was able to give me the number, but deary me was I just all over the place!! LOL so unlike me even DH was like "what's your deal today!!" I think the excitement of 90 days just got to me.

So those were my happenings and experiences this morning. Earlier in the week I had called for La Nouba tickets and had a similarly wonderful experience and helpfulness. I posted a quick little blurb about how nice it is to call Disney because everyone is nice nice, and the last time I checked I had something like 64 views and not ONE reply. No bother to me, it's just funny how when people start a negative thread it takes off like wild fire, but it's a lot harder to get people to relay good experiences.

Well, as always, thank you all for reading and have a magical day!!!

 

[nic100308]

I think I have reached an excitement plateau. This whole time I was waiting for my 90 day mark. Oh, that glorious day when all my planning could be put into action. But now what?!?!

Well, I thought I would get back to "basics" so to say and introduce you to my little family.

This is DH. He's the best!! Calm, patient, the ying to my yang. He's so laid back and just goes with the flow, perfect for an OCD planner like myself.

This is us on our wedding day Oct 3, 2008. The happiest day ever!! Life did throw us a curve ball, but we weathered the storm together and now we're celebrating our first anniversary, the Holidays, and "getting through it" in Disney!!

This is our furry daughter Brynn. She's so cute and yes she really is like our daughter. She thinks she's a person, probably because we treat her like one. We don't have kids yet, so she's our only one. Unfortunately she's not allowed in Disney, but she'll get lots of doggy goodies from the World.

Brynn when she was a puppy

B as Sheriff Woody for Halloween (she loved it, can't you tell)

Every self respecting New Yorker is a Yankees fan, even B

So that's my little family. Even though there were tough times, when I would think about all that I have, I would realized that I have a very blessed life.

Because DH and I are really into saving every penny we have, I do have a few more Cheap Chic tips. I've had a couple of weeks to come up with some good ones, so here goes:
1) For anyone who has free dining, I would suggest really taking advantage of this. At first we only had a few ADR's, but the more I thought about it, the sillier I thought it was to let any of our table service credits go to waste (I think that was my "life long dieter" speaking.) I know some people question whether free dining was really free, for us it definitely is!
2) This is a post trip tip-scrap booking if fun, but some people aren't into it and sometimes it can get really expensive. Shutterfly.com has photo books you can make starting at $13. Instead of ordering albums for the moms from our wedding photographer we opted for this. There were big and a little more elaborate, but it came to $100 instead of the $500 the photographer wanted.
3) I remember when the Disney Store first opened it was VERY expensive. Although lately I've noticed they have had some really good deals, mainly on t-shirts. If you, or if your kids want some Mickey gear, and you don't want to spend a fortune on an "in the park t-shirt" try the Disney Store. Shirts starting at $8 online and I swear that in the store they were as low as $5!!
4) Ladies with small feet (myself included) Looking for a good pair of walking shoes?? Unfortunately when you're putting on the miles like you do at Disney, good shoes are one of those things that you get what you pay for. While you can get some good deals at times, a fool proof way to get good walking shoes and a bargain price it to buy children's sizes. I myself wear a 7, 7.5 and I'll wear about a 5 ot 5.5 in boys. And now that it is back to school you may be able to find 2 for 1.
5)Somewhat related to #4, same thing goes for clothing. Last time we were in Disney I was looking for a sweat shirt. I looked for a while before I found one I liked. When I picked it up I realized it was a childs size, but they had an XL and it fit. It was also a lot cheaper than an adult sweat shirt.

I hope you enjoyed the introduction of my family, sorry if it was a little overdue. As always, thank you for reading and have a magical day!!

 

[carps09]

I hope that your upcoming trip is magical! Sounds like you guys really deserve it. Also, we will share our anniversary - I'm getting married on October 3 and then heading to Disney for our honeymoon! Great minds think alike

 

[nic100308]

I'm getting married on October 3

HOW EXCITING!!! We had such a beautiful day-perfect NY fall weather. And Disney for your honeymoon!?!?!? How wonderful!! You will have an awesome time! Disney at Halloween time is so cool. You should definitely do MNSSHP, still the best parade we've ever seen!

I'll give you a little bit of wedding day advice: Enjoy every second because it will go so much quicker than you ever imagined. Everyone told me the same thing, but I didn't realize how fast it would go until that day was over. And enjoy your honeymood, it will be the best trip of your life.

Thanks for the warm words, DH and I hit a few bumpy roads but we got through it and now we get to celebrate in WDW!!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Glad you were able to do well with your ADR's!!!

Your dog is a cutie!

The last couple of months is going to fly and before we know it, all of us December trip planners are going to be running the World!

 

[shordiebecka]

Hey, I just found your PTR! I love it so much so far. Your money saving tips are just awesome, for my November trip I am going with my boyfriend & his parents- his mother is the definition of frugal. If you looked up the word in the dictionary, I'd be surprised if her picture wasn't there. So I love your tips!

Your dog is adorable! Love the pictures of your family. Whenever the going gets tough for me, this is the quote that keeps me going, and my all time favorite quote- "No one ever promised it would be easy, they just said that it would be worth it" looking forward to more!